Key container



March 8, 1949. g, SMlTH 2,463,815

KEY CONTAINER Filed D90. 14, 1946 INVENTOR,

Bfyf/M Why/4a Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a key container, and has particular reference to a key container wherein keys are retained on a post Within a flexible cover.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a key container comprising a single piece of flexible leather, or similar material, folded over to form a hollow container, a mounting post extending between opposite sides of said container on which a number of keys may be carried, said post being slidably movable away from one side of said container to permit insertion and removal of keys, and spring means urging said mounting post toward the closed position.

Another object is the provision of a means whereby said mounting post may be releasably locked in the open position against the pressure of the spring, thereby facilitating the removal and insertion of keys.

A further object is the provision of a means whereby said key container may be attached to a key ring, key chain, or other carrying device.

Further objects are simplicity, economy, and ruggedness of construction, and ease and dependability of operation.

With these objects in View, as well as further objects which will become apparent during the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a key container embodying the present invention, said container being shown attached to a key chain.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line II--II of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line III-III of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 3, with the slidable mounting post in the retracted position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line V--V of Figure 3.

Fig. 6 is an outside View of the flexible container opened to a flat position.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 10 applies to a cover consisting of a single piece of leather or other flexible material cut substantially to the shape shown in Figure 6, and adapted to be folded as shown in Figure 1 to form a substantially tubular container open at top and bottom and wider at the top than at the bottom. Cooperating snap fastener members 12 and i4 fixed in opposite edges of cover I!) serve to retain said cover in the folded or closed position. An

, eyelet [6 is fixed in the lower edge of cover I0,

and a ring I3 is passed through said eyelet. Said ring may be attached to a key chain 20, a key ring, or other similar device. The container may, of course, also be carried without attaching it to any ring or chain.

A U-shaped frame member 22 having substantial rigidity extends partially around the inside of said container adjacent the upper edge thereof. The forward leg of said frame member is rigidly attached to cover ID by a pin 24 having an enlarged head 26, said pin extending inwardly through cover l0 and frame 22, and being slightly upset at its inner end to retain it rigidly in position. The inward end of said pin is extended inwardly to form a positioning pin 28.

The rearward leg of frame 22 is shaped to provide an outwardly extending bearing tube 30 in axial alignment with pin 24. Said tube extends outwardly through hole 32 of cover Ill, through a clamp washer 34, and is upset at its outer end to clamp said cover rigidly between said frame and said clamp washer.

A tubular mounting post 36 is slidably carried in bearing tube 30, and normally extends through the container. Its inner end is equipped with a plug 38 having a socket 46 adapted to engage positioning pin 28, and its outer end is shaped to form a wide, fiat head 42. Said mounting post is urged inwardly to engage positioning pin 28 by helical spring 44 contained within the said mounting post. Said spring abuts at its forward end against plug 38 and at its rearward end against disc 45 carried within said tubular mounting post. Said disc is maintained stationary with respect to frame 22 by means of a narrow flap [cut from frame 22 adjacent mounting post 36 to form a detent 48, said detent being bent to project into said mounting post through a slot 50 cut longitudinally in the side of the said mounting post, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Said slot is provided at its forward end with a laterally offset portion 52.

To insert or remove keys, head 42 of mounting post 36 is manually pulled rearwardly, compressing spring 44, until detent 48 abuts against the forward end of slot 56. Post 36 is then turned through a partial revolution to bring offset portion 52 of said slot into alignment with detent 48, thus securing said mounting post in the retracted position against the pressure of spring 44. The retraction of said mounting post opens a gap 54 between the inward end of said mounting post and positioning pin 28. Through this gap keys 56 may be placed on or removed from 1. A key container comprising a single piece of fiexible material folded to form a substantially,

tubular cover adapted to be opened along a longitudinal edge thereof, a fiat rigid U-sha-pediframe:

member extending partially around the inside of said cover adjacent one end thereof and firmly fixed thereto, a mounting post slidablycarried in one leg of said U-shaped frame memberand extending, outwardly throughthe. wall of said.

cover, said mounting. post normally extending through said cover and. abutting againstthe. oppositelegof said U-shaped-frame member, means for slidablyretracting said. mounting post. from engagement from said oppositeframe .leg whereby keys'may be-mountedon saidmounting. post, and :means constantly urging said slidablemount ingpost inwardly toward its. abutting position.

2. -In. a key. container. of thev classv described.

having a: substantially tubular. cover, means. providing rigidly. spacedapartfront and. rear walls,

a tubular mounting post slidably carried insaid rear wall and havingits forwardend closedland.

a longitudinal: slot formed in thev side thereof, a detentrigidlm fixed to said. rear. wall .and. extendinginto said tubular-mounting postthrough said slot, a spring carried 7 within said mounting. post, said-spring. bearing'at its forward endagainst the closedforwardend of-saidmounting post andatits rearward endagainst .saiddetent,..thereby urging; said .mounting: post: inwardly tobear. at its forward end against said front. wall, and means associated; with:.th'et'extended rearward: end of said; mounting pos-tfwherebysaid: mounting, post may, beapulled rearwardly'against 'the-pressure of said: spring.

3'. In a: key container havingi asubstantially. tubular. coverof 1a: flexible-.material, a: flat, rigid frame member rigidly fixed to and. extending;

partially aroundtheinsideof said cover adjacent one end' thereof to:pr.esent spaced apart forward and rearward legs, said frame member holding the front and 'rear walls of said cover inrigidly spaced apart relationship, atubular mounting.

post slidably'carriedin the rearward leg of said. frame member andextending forwardly'to -abut normally againstthe forward leg. of said frame member, said mounting post being closed at its.

forward end and having a longitudinal slot in-the side thereof; said. slot having. a laterally offset portionat the forward: end thereof, a detent rigidly fixed to the rearwardleg of: said frame member andlextending into said mounting post through said: slot, a spring: caried. within' said mounting post, said spring-being compressedbe tween. said d'etent and" the closed forward end of said mounting; post, thereby urgingsaid. mountingpost forwardly, a headrigidly fixed to the rearwardly extended end of said mounting post'whereby said. mounting post may be rearwardly retracted; said mounting post-being rotatable when intheretractedrposition to move. the

offset portion of said slot into alignment with said detent, thereby securing said mounting post apart front and rear walls, a mounting post slidably carried in said rear wall and extending inwardly through said cover to bear normally against said front wall, said mounting post having asocket'iformed in the forward end thereof, a positoning pin rigidly ata'ched to'and'extending inwardly from said front Wall in axial alignment with said mounting post, said pin being adapted to be engaged in said socket, and a spring means urging said mounting post into engagement with said positioning pin.

5. A. key container. comprising a single piece of flexible material folded to form a substantially tubular cover; cooperating snap fasteners releasably securing said cover in the closed position; a rigid U-shaped-frame member firmly fixed'to'and extending partially: around the inside: of said:

cover adjacent o-neen'cl thereof, whereby the front and rear walls of said cover are maintained rigidly in a spaced apart relationship; a tubular mounting post slidably' carried'in the rearward leg. of said frame member and extending rearwardly through said rear wall and forwardly through said cover to abut normally. againsttheforward legof said frame membensaid mounting post having a closed forward end with-a socket formed therein, and; a longitudinal slot formedtin the side thereof,'.saidslot having a laterally offset portionat'theforward end thereof; a detent rigidly attached to the rearward leg.

of saidframe memberand' extending into said tubular mounting postthrough'said'slot; a spring carried within said mounting post' and com;- pressed between saiddet'entand the closediforward end of said mounting post, whereby said:

mounting post is urged against the forward leg ofsaid frame member; a positioning pin rigidly attached to and extending inwardly from the forwardleg of said'frame member'in. axial alignment with said'mounting post; said pin normally being engaged in the socket" of saidmounting post; and'a flat head formed integrally with'the extended rearward end of said mounting post,

whereby said mounting post may-be manually re-- tracted to the rear compressing said spring, said mounting post being rotatable when in saidretracted position to movetheoff'setportion ofsaid slot into alignment with said detent, therebysecuring said mounting post in the retracted position.

CARL G. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS" 

